BLUE AND YELLOW MACCAW. 11' 



beneath the eyes. The irides are yellowish-white. 

 Immediately beneath the under mandible is a broad 

 black fascia, extending upwards to the ears, and en- 

 compassing the greater part of the naked white space. 

 The whole of the upper plumage is of a beautiful 

 rich blue, passing into green upon the forehead, 

 crown, rump, and some of the smaller wing-coverts. 

 The greater quills and tail are of a deeper tint, ap- 

 proaching to violet. The under surfaces of the wings 

 and tail are yellow. The sides of the neck, breast, 

 and inferior parts of the body, are rich saffron-yel- 

 low. The legs and feet blackish -grey, the scales 

 defined by whitish lines. Like all the other mem- 

 bers of the genus, it is a native of tropical America, 

 and is met with in the Brazils, particularly upon the 

 banks of the river Amazons, in Guiana, and Suri- 

 nam, &c. It affects the woods, particularly such as 

 occupy swampy grounds, and which abound in a 

 species of palm, upon whose fruit it principally sub- 

 sists. It is said generally to keep in pairs, though 

 occasionally to assemble in large flocks, and when 

 this is the case, their united screams are heard to a 

 great distance. The dimensions and form of their 

 wings, and long cuneiform tail, indicate a powerful 

 and vigorous flight, and accordingly we are informed 

 that in this respect they are inferior to none of the 

 tribe, their flight being often at a high elevation, 

 and accompanied with a variety of aerial evolutions, 

 particularly before alighting, which is always upon 

 the summits of the highest trees. They deposit their 



